Chapter 170 Sera Angel

Chapter 170 Sera Angel
[Sera]

To my surprise, Barrett's face broke into a slow, dangerous smile—the kind that never reached his eyes but made powerful men nervous in boardrooms. "You know what, Maximilian?" he said, leaning slightly out the window, his tone casual but laced with something sharp. "I've always liked a worthy opponent. Makes things... interesting." He paused, tilting his head slightly. "Thanks for volunteering."

The prince's eyebrow arched slightly, clearly not expecting this reaction.

That's when I leaned over, making sure Maximilian could see me clearly, and raised my middle finger right at him. "And thanks for the horse," I added sweetly.

Maximilian's eyes widened for a split second before his composed mask slipped back into place. Without another word, he turned and walked away, his stride just a bit too stiff to be natural.

"Drive," Barrett told the chauffeur, his dark smile still in place as we pulled away from the curb.

I glanced back and saw Dominic watching us, standing near where Maximilian had stopped, both men with unreadable expressions.

"Did I just complicate international relations?" I asked, settling back into the seat.

Barrett's laugh was genuine this time, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Probably. But your middle finger diplomacy was remarkably effective." His fingers found mine, interlacing them. "Reminded me of why I can't take my eyes off you."

"He had it coming," I said, rolling my eyes. "The nerve of that kiss..."

"He's used to getting what he wants," Barrett mused, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. "So am I. Difference is—" his eyes met mine, dangerous and possessive yet somehow warm "—I already have what matters."

---

The next day, I was back in the lecture hall. Even after the confrontation with Maximilian, campus life had to continue—tests wouldn't take themselves, and my architectural designs weren't going to draft themselves.

I was flipping through my architectural journal, enjoying the morning sunlight streaming through the blinds, when my phone buzzed. Jolin's name flashed on the screen.

"Sera! You need to see the Morning Post right now!" Jolin practically screamed into the phone. "You're on the front page! The entire front page!"

Confused, I walked to our apartment door and picked up today's newspaper. There I was, cradling a rescued child in the Valtorian rubble, under a bold headline: "Disaster Zone Hero: Sera Thompson's Valtorian Miracle."

"This is ridiculous," I muttered, skimming the article. They'd written a detailed account of how I'd rushed back into an unstable structure during aftershocks to rescue trapped children, plus all my other volunteer work. Everything was dramatically exaggerated, making me sound like some kind of superhero.

My phone rang again. Barrett.

"Looks like my wife is now a national icon," he said, his voice warm with pride. "I've already turned down seven interview requests for 'exclusive stories with the disaster zone hero.'"

"This is insane, Barrett. I only did what anyone would have done."

"No," his tone softened. "You did what only Sera Thompson would do. Ready for your celebrity campus life? Today's classes should be... interesting."

I sighed. "I just want to finish the semester in peace."

"Jay will drive you to school," Barrett said, his voice turning serious. "Security will be tighter from now on. I'm not taking chances with this level of media attention."

After hanging up, I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the day. What I wasn't prepared for was the scene when Jay's car approached campus. The entrance was swarming with reporters and cameras. Flashbulbs exploded as we pulled up, and journalists rushed toward the car windows.

"Mrs. Thompson! Can you tell us about your experience in Valtoria?"
"What gave you the courage to risk your life for those children?"
"Do you feel prepared for the role of First Lady?"

That last question caught me off guard. First Lady? I'd never thought of myself that way.

"Sources say President Donnell Thompson favors his eldest son Dominic to inherit the family's political legacy. Any comment?" a female reporter pressed, clearly fishing for something controversial.

Jay immediately stepped between me and the reporters. "Please make way. Mrs. Thompson needs to get to class."

"As the newest Thompson bride, do you feel accepted by the family, or are you still an outsider?" another reporter called out, her words dripping with provocation.

I kept silent, letting Jay escort me through the crowd. When we finally entered campus grounds, I exhaled in relief. "Thanks, Jay. They were more aggressive than I expected."

"This is just the beginning, Mrs. Thompson," Jay said solemnly. "The media will try everything to get you to say something quotable. Please be careful."

Walking into the architecture building, I noticed students stopping to stare and point. I quickened my pace to Professor Davis's office and knocked.

"Come in," came the familiar voice.

Professor Davis, with his silver hair and kind blue eyes, stood immediately when he saw me. "Sera! Thank God you're safe." He gave me a fatherly hug. "I've been following the Valtoria situation in the news."

"Thank you for your concern, Professor," I said sincerely, taking a seat across from him.

"You've been through quite an ordeal," he said, studying me. "You look more mature than when you left."

"It feels like a lifetime," I admitted. "But I'm glad to be back at school."

He nodded and opened my student file. "About your academics, I've reviewed your credits. You've completed all required courses. You only need to finish your thesis to graduate early."

"Really?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes. Your Valtorian volunteer work counted as practical credits." He smiled. "Now you just need to decide on a thesis topic. Any ideas?"

"I'd like to research structural optimization for emergency shelters," I answered without hesitation. "I saw so many areas for improvement in Valtoria."

His eyes lit up. "That would make an excellent topic. Your firsthand experience combined with theoretical research will produce an outstanding thesis." He paused, his expression turning serious. "Sera, I must ask you an important question—do you plan to continue your education after graduation?"